A Prospective, Population-Based Study of the Demographics, Epidemiology, Management, and Outcome of Out-of-Hospital Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Arrest

Study Objectives: To perform a population-based study addressing the demography, epidemiology, management, and outcome of out-of-hospital pediatric cardiopulmonary arrest (PCPA). Methods: Prospective, population-based study of all children (17 years of age or younger) in a large urban municipality who were treated by EMS personnel for apneic, pulseless conditions. Data were collected prospectively for 3½ years using a comprehensive data collection tool and on-line computerized database. Each child received standard pediatric advanced cardiac life support. Results: During the 3½-year period, 300 children presented with PCPA (annual incidence of 19.7/100,000 at risk). Of these, 60% (n=181) were male ( P =.0003), and 54% (n=161) were patients 12 months of age or younger (152,500 at risk). Compared with the population at risk (32% black patients, 36% Hispanic patients, 26% white patients), a disproportionate number of arrests occurred in black children (51.6% versus 26.6% in Hispanics, and 17% in white children; P